The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-03


have oil you need"
Then mother actually schools herself q
know II Is an effort, but . sense Of duty is
strong in herr to kiss cousin Mary, q trial OF
moral strength am not equal to, and pro.
ceedlng which seems to strike our visitor with
profound surprise. Ada proves herself as
great coward as am, for she merely shakes
hands, and theu conduct our guest upstairs.
When we reach her room she suddenly turns
round 10 me. ~ want to know rightly what's
expected Of me-" she says. "It's all very fine
her talking like that'-and she points towards
the door with her thumb to signify she u re.
ferring TO mother--but want TO know the
rights OF the matter. II Amt Just likely she'll
saddle hcrself with young woman she's TO
make nothing out Of"
For moment feel Indignant that mothers
Observation-Disclosures should b. suspected; then I
really began to fancy that perhaps after ali,
Jack was right, and our COUSINS brain 10 .
1 little unhinged; 80 say soothingly, as the
best way OF getting out OF the difficulty
"Well well, we'll see about 10 tomorrow.
I daresay you're tired tonight and must want
to be done talking. Good night. Breakfast
at $50; you'll be called at eight and leave
her looking only half satisfied
| / rush down stairs when have quilted her.
Mother, Ada and Jack have drawn ronud the
! fire, and are holding family council. Their
tones are SO grave, their faces express so much
chargrin, that were the whole affair not SO cru
ely notifying, It would be too absurd.
Fanny" begins Ada, In tragic voice, Eve
amt take her to the st. Clare's. 1t would
never do"
II don't see how we can help It," / say,
gloomily, "Did you ever see anything like
herim
Never" returned my sister solemly; land
really do not see how we are to take her
about" looking refectlvely into the fire. I'm
sure should be ashamed to be seen with her "
How long will she stay, motheri"
about n month, I should think" says
mother with sigh, mot longer"
''Quite long enough" says Ada, savagely,
while can only reiteratc "A MONTH" des-
parngly Then we are all silent, picturng
suppose, what the prospective month will bring
forth. Apparently none OF us find the rehec-
ton cheering.
"Didnt you know what like she was when
YOU asked hcrn asks Ada presently, with I'M
reasoning impotence. as she like Uncle Ed
gar"
"Why, you know, dear" says mother an
swcring the impetuous outburst with her usu-
al unrufiied gen.leness, 1--WE never seen Mary
until tonight, and she is as like your uncle rs
-as--well, as she Is unlike you, Ada" she ends
smilngly.
Ada is the strong point Of the family in per-
sonal attraction Probably she Is soothed by
the allusion, for she kisses mother by way of
apology, and we grow little less doleful as
we resolve 10 make the best o. matters as they
are So we get our work. and the clock on the
mantelpiece ticks steadily, and the fire burns
brightly, but somehow, instead of the usual
merry buzz OF conversation, we seem sudden
" to have developed reflective turn Of mind
for tho work progresses but our voices are ST.
lent. Presently we are startled by ring at
the door bell-it must be quite two hours after
Cousin Mary has rctlred-lndecd, we are just
putting our work together, as II is getting late
and libby brings In red envelope, and
handing II to mother, says, In q voice Of awe,
due to the occasion, "a telegram for you,
ma'am." "A telegram excaims mother with
a nervous start born OF a general horror of tel
egrans, and know that her thoughts straight
way fly TO Tom in India. libby retlres, and
Mother tears open the envelope with trembling
fingers and reads aloud
From Mary Montgomery, Yarlcy, to Mrs.
Vaughn, 8 Well Road, Tunburgh.
"IIave been obliged to delay my arrival till
tomorrow Hope this will not Inconvenience
YOU VIII explain reason when we meet"
Mother reads 1t once through, then looks up
bewldered at cant be for me-" she says ut
last, picking up the envelope aud examining
the address.
"Or course 1t is" | say; "look here's your
name and address inside as we'll
But Mary's up stairs" says mother in a
puzzled tone. "What's II all about don't
understand" and she proceeds TO peruse the
telegram once more.
None Of us understood at first, but gradual
" light dawns upon u.s.
~ have it," says Ada In an eager, excited
tone. 1t isn't Mary we've got up stairs at ALL"
She announces her conviction just as we all
come to the same conclusion.
Then who is itir asks mother slowly. Yes,
who is it. There's the rub.
Apparently an immense weight has been
lifted from Ada's mind by her discovery for
regardless OF the dilemma we are In If she is
right, her face beams with satisfaction.
Mothers on the contrary wears a look OF
troubled anxiety, which | think the occasion
hardly justifles-an anxiety which seems TO
deepen the more she ponders the matter. At
last she speaks.
"Some one has known of this she says
gravely laying her hand on the telegram.
Some one has known Of Mary's movements.
The woman up stairs is an imposter ! feel